Welcome to Louisville’s #1 nightlife guide.

On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Louisville. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.

Enjoy!

Nightlife in Louisville has so many different colors. You can choose to have a cozy night with a small group of friends dining on fine food and sipping on bourbon. Or, you can choose to dress to the nines and hit the dance clubs and bars with live music. 

Dance until you drop and take in shots of fruity drinks paired with snacks to keep your energy going. Whether you are a blues fan, a karaoke star, or a theatre lover, you will find all these types of events running almost on the same nights.

A bit more about Louisville

Louisville is the largest city in the state of Kentucky. It also has a historical significance to its name. The city is named after the French monarch Louis XVI. It is also extremely well known as the home of the world-famous boxer Muhammad Ali. 

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular sports entertainment that is now famous globally. The K in the very renowned fast-food chain KFC stands for Kentucky. The city offers a wide variety of urban bars, clubs, and restaurants that keep the nightlife strong. Here is a list of fantastic nightlife experiences that you can only have when in Louisville.

Popular clubs and bars in Louisville

Nightlife in Louisville is exciting, with many available options. You can choose to go dancing in clubs or chill at a jazz bar. You can have a different flavor to your nightlife adventure almost every night. Here are a few of the top choices for nightlife adventures that you can seek out in Louisville.

Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar

You can kick-start your nightlife experience with the smokiest joint in the house. This bar opens every evening around 6 pm, and the service goes on until 2 am. Even on a weeknight, you can walk in to find an ongoing jam session just spontaneously arranged. So you can vibe with the many styles of Blues music and that too without any cover charges.

Address: 230 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-582-9945

Website: http://www.stevieraysbluesbar.com/ 

PBR Louisville: A Cowboy Bar

If you are around the Fourth Street area, you can try the PBR Louisville. It is a cowboy-themed bar just overlooking the concert area. Festive decor and a live DJ playing vibrant music sets a very bright tone to the night. The club opens at about 7 pm and serves until 12 am. The club offers free parking after 4 am on Sundays, and even on the weekdays, the parking rates are minimal. 

Address: 432 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-238-0357

Website: https://www.4thstlive.com/eat-and-drink/pbr-louisville 

Flanagan’s Ale House

This is a local favorite and one of the most popular bars for a lighter family-friendly environment. The bar opens at 11 am every day and serves until 4 am. There is live music and a warm ambiance with 14 HD televisions around the bar playing the local sports events until late in the night. Every Thursday from 7 pm, they have a Pint Night with two beers featured for the night at very affordable prices.  

Address: 934 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204

Phone: +1 502-585-3700

Website: https://flanagansalehouse.com/ 

Louisville Boat Club

Probably one of the oldest clubs to be established in Louisville, this one is a city classic. The venue has a fantastic view of the river and offers patio dining. You can also book rent a room for your exclusive private event. The club opens at 9 am and serves until 9 pm. 

Address: 4200 River Rd, Louisville, KY 40207

Phone: +1 502-896-0375

Website: https://louisvilleboatclub.com/ 

Gator Terry’s

If you are in German Town in Louisville, do not miss a trip to the Gator Terry’s. The menu offers mostly Cajun cuisine, and they are a crowd favorite. The entertainment is booked with local DJs and big names in the music industry. This bar and restaurant are practically open round the clock. You can also buy official Gator Terry’s merchandise as souvenirs to take back home from your visit.

Address: 936 Goss Ave, Louisville, KY, 40217, Kentucky

Website: http://gatorterrys.com/ 

Taj

Taj is a funky joint with an excellent selection of bourbons and many local brews that you might want to taste. The club building is the owner’s home, which he recreated into this fun dive bar. 

There is a lot of eclectic art around the bar, from the shutters painted on the ceiling to a featured Louisville skyline made entirely of beer pulls. There are plenty of grungy corners and even sitting areas outside the bar if you want to relax with your friends. 

Address: 807 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206

Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen

Hop on over to Merle’s if you are jonesing for a glass of whiskey sour and authentic southern fried chicken. This bar is more family-friendly than the rest of the whiskey joints in the area. You can easily find a table even on Friday evenings. It is open from 11 am to 11 pm. There is street parking only.

Address: 122 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202-1344

Phone: +1 502-290-8888

Website: https://www.merleswhiskeykitchen.com/ 

The Cellar at Patrick O’Shea’s

The Irish know how to present the pub culture the best. The Cellar is a fantastic joint for tourists to mingle with the locals over a pint of beer or a glass of Smokey whiskey. You can also stop for some cozy dinner with drinks. 

The place is perfect for cocktail parties or drinks and dinner events with a capacity of up to 150 guests at a time. The place opens for the public every Thursday to Saturday from 6 am to 2 am.

Address: 123 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-708-2488

Website: http://osheaslouisville.net/ 

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub and Restaurant

Another classic Irish pub in East Louisville known for its hearty customer service and amazing pub cuisine, Malone’s is a classic hangout. It is open every Monday to Friday from 11 am to 1 am, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 am. Parking can be tricky during the weekend rush hours. 

Address: 3900 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40207

Rubbies Southside Grill and Bar

If you are going to stop over at South Louisville, this is the place to visit for a hearty southern dinner with drinks. The Smoked wing and brisket are particular crowd favorites. The grill and restaurant are open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 am to 10 pm, and Sundays from 12 pm to 12 am. After 10 pm, they also have the late-night menu available for diners.

Address: 6905 Southside Dr, Louisville, 40214

Phone: +1 502-473-1222

Website: http://www.mollymalonesirishpub.com/ 

Hoops Sports Bar and Grill

This sports bar is a solid place to catch the game while mingling with the locals over pub fare and drinks. They also organize sporting events in the pub. In addition, they offer outdoor patio dining, a full-service bar and even gambling and pool tables to keep your evening entertained. The Bar opens every day from 11 am to 1 am. 

Address: 6733 Strawberry Ln, Louisville, KY 40214

Phone: +1 502-375-4667

Havana Rumba and Tapas Bar

Jonesing for Tapas and spicy wings with chilled beer? If you are around Bardstown road, by all means, step into Havana Rumba to have just the night you want. This Louisville gem of a bar has excellent customer service and the tastiest Tapas feast options. The bar opens every Monday to Thursday from 5 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 10 pm. 

Address: 2210 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205

Phone: +1 502-749-4600

Website: https://www.havanarumbaonline.com/  

Brown Hotel Lobby Bar and Grill

Are you looking for a more classic option with the opulence to set the tone for a great date night? Then skip the pubs and head over to the Lobby Bar and Grill at the Brown Hotel at West Broadway Louisville. They offer Dinner and After Hour drinks options. They are also vegetarian-friendly, have gluten-free, and vegan options on the menu as well. It opens every day from 3 pm to 1:30 am, but you need to have reservations.

Address: 335 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-583-1234

Website: https://www.brownhotel.com/dining/lobby-bar 

Bungalow Joe’s

Live music, great food, mind-blowing ambiance, and a wide range of beers on tap – That is what describes the Bungalow Joe experience the best. The restaurant opens every day from 7 am to 3 am, so it provides full-service breakfast to dinner options along with hard cocktails, beers, and wine slushies on the menu.

Address: 7406 Jensen Blvd, Hanover Park, IL 60133

Phone: +1 502-931-5637

Website: https://www.bungalow-joes.com/ 

Nightlife events in Louisville 

If you want to have a classic evening with some culture and entertainment, you can take your pick from classic plays, contemporary live performances, Karaoke bars, or even comedy clubs. When in Louisville, you can decide the type of evening you have in mind, and the city will have an option for you!

Actors Theatre Of Louisville

This is a collective of two different theaters, Actors Inc. and the Theatre Louisville. Now, the theater puts up more than 400 live performances every year. You can catch a classic show like the adaptation of Dracula or Romeo and Juliet or catch the more contemporary performances that are booked at different times. 

The theatre usually puts up shows on Sundays between 6 pm to 9 pm. However, you can check the calendar for different live events hosted on different days at specific times.

Address: 316 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-584-1205

Website: https://www.actorstheatre.org/ 

The Laughing Derby at Comedy Caravan

Take in a live comedy show to set your nightlife mood on the right note. The club hosts both amateurs, and big names for live comedy shows each night from Wednesday to Saturday. 

It also hosts comedy nights on Sundays during the major peak seasons. You can also book a private event for your friends and family during the off-season. 

Address: 1250 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204

Phone: +1 502-459-0022

Website: https://www.thecaravan2017.com/ 

The Thirsty Pedaler

A unique pedaling bar crawl option that seats 16 peddlers at a time, plus the driver. The bar crawl takes in at least 2 bar and restaurant visits per trip. This is a crazy, fun idea for bachelorette or private event parties. 

You can also take the tour to meet new friends and visit the hottest bars in Downtown Louisville. The thirsty pedaler takes tours from 11 am to 11 pm every day.

Address: 400 South 4th Street Suite 170, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-354-8822

Website: https://www.thethirstypedaler.com/ 

NoraeBar

Head on over to the NoraeBar, and you can enjoy your night of karaoke like the one you want. You can also book individual song rooms like usual KTVs to have a more personal setting for your Karaoke party. 

The bar opens at 8 pm on Thursdays and is serving until 2 am. Friday and Saturday, you can find the bars open from 8 pm until 4 am. On Sundays, the bar opens early at 4 pm and closes by 2 am in the night. 

Address: 717 East Market Street, Louisville, 40202

Phone: +1 502-209-8399

Website: https://noraebar.com/ 

Fourth Street Live

If you are strolling along Fourth Street, do not miss out on the range of options available as you walk from Liberty Street to the Muhammad Ali Boulevard Downtown. Try out Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse or get your fine dining on at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. 

You can chill at the Hard Rock Cafe or lounge back with some incredible whiskey mixes at the Whiskey Dry by Ed Lee. 

Address: 411 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-584-7170

Website: https://www.4thstlive.com/ 

Howl At The Moon

This is hands down the number one nightlife hub in Louisville. Live music, high-energy ambiance, talented performers, and the dance floor just throbbing with locals and tourists having fun together. 

The club opens up every Thursday to Saturday from 7 Pm, and the party continues until 2 am. Sundays through Wednesdays, the place is open for live events often advertised beforehand so that you can book your spot online.

Address: 434 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: +1 502-532-4695

Website: https://www.howlatthemoon.com/louisville/ 

Conclusion

You can easily get car shares or rides from Fourth Street. However, make sure to book your ride well ahead of time if you will be out bar-hopping along Downtown or the Central Business District in Louisville. 

If you are going to drive down, check whether the area offers street parking or a good parking space. Louisville offers everyone their type of nightlife entertainment choices. All you have to do is visit the city, let loose and soak in the nightlife adventures one at a time!